Category: News Article

Over the summer I’ve highlighted a number of issues where workers have been hit hard by businesses leaving them high & dry – and where action is needed to tackle these problems.

In July I raised the issues coming out of the cancelled Green Day concert at Bellahouston Park. Hundreds of workers have been left out of pocket after concert promoters pulled the plug at the very last minute, citing “adverse weather”. That’s scant consolation to people who lost a full day’s pay at zero notice, some of whom were stuck at the park until midnight. I wrote to the promoters asking what they intended to do to sort this out – and I’ll continue to push these companies and individuals until both workers and ticket-holders get justice.

Following on from that, it emerged that jobs were being advertised for Tim Hortons’ new outlet at Silverburn in Pollok, paying substantially below the national minimum wage. Following an investigation by Common Space, and my contacting Tim Hortons’ leafy Surrey headquarters, they were able to confirm that they do not break the law. That’s good – but workers shouldn’t just be paid the minimum wage. The Real Living Wage is £8.45 an hour. I want every Tim Hortons employee across these Isles to paid that as a bare minimum – demonstrating that paying the real living wage is what responsible companies and employers do – not simply do what they are legally required to do.

These issues locally are just the tip of the iceberg. The UK’s kamikaze Brexit threatens basic employment rights and protections for us all, with no sign the extremist right-wing cabal currently in charge of HMS UK know any other route other that onto the nearest iceberg. That’s why is up to all of us to push for continued and enhanced worker protections over the coming weeks, months, and years.

I’m doing my bit by introducing a bill in the House of Commons later this year on workers’ rights. Over the summer I’ve been working with trades unions, workers’ reps, political parties, lawyers, and dozens more to draft this bill. I’ll write more about this in future – but this is only one part of a bigger picture. It’s incumbent on us all to ensure the pressure is kept up and rogue employers are brought to task – and justice – for treating their employees in a disreputable and inhuman manner. Together we can help tackle this.

Delighted to have supported and to assist in giving out awards at the Show Racism the Red Card Creative Competition, at Hampden Stadium today. Good to see Hillington Primary among the winners. winners.

Last week I had the opportunity to see the different interpretations of Emmeline Pankhurst’s extraordinary life immortalised in the maquettes in a display in Parliament. It was a fantastic reminder of the immense contribution she made to the campaign for women’s suffrage, and to the society we see today.

I wish all the sculptors the best of luck and look forward to seeing the winner built in 2019